Home appliance



1962 R. F. CONNOR 3,022,936

HOME APPLIANCE Filed May 19, 1960 /////'//////////A||m @WW? IIIII United States Patent 3,022,936 HOME APPLIANCE Ralph F. (former, Evansville, Ind., assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 19, 1960, Ser. No. 30,128 6 Claims. (Cl. 230-207) This invention relates to rotary compressors and in particular to rotary compressors for use in refrigeration systems.

The present invention is concerned with the separation of refrigerant from the lubricating oil in a rotary motorcompressor such as that disclosed in copending John M. Wellborn and John A. Kimm application Serial No. 804,174, filed April 6, 1959, and assigned to the assignee hereof. In the disclosed motor-compressor, the lubricating oil and refrigerant gas are passed through a precooler to provide an improved cooling of the motor-compressor and also to provide partial separation of the oil and the gas. Upon return to the motor-compressor from the precooler, the oil is collected in a lower portion of the housing thereof for redelivery to the parts of the compressor to be lubricated. This oil contains entrained refrigerant gas.

In the operation of such a motor-compressor, portions thereof become quite hot because of the heat of compression, friction and motor inefficiency and the like, and when the refrigerant carrying oil comes in contact therewith, gaseous refrigerant tends to separate from the oil. Then such separated refrigerant gas is drawn with the lubricating oil into the portions of the motor-compressor requiring lubrication, adversely affecting the lubrication thereof. This adverse effect is much more severe at the start up of the compressor because the temperatures are lower and the oil and refrigerant gas are even more miscible at this lower temperature.

The present invention provides means for separating the refrigerant from the oil prior to the delivery of the oil to the elements of the motor-compressor requiring lubrication and prior to recirculating the refrigerant in the refrigeration system.

A principal feature of the present invention is, therefore, the provision of a new and improved means for separating refrigerant from lubricating oil in a compressor.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such means utilizing heat energy of the motor-compressor for automatic separation of the rerigerant from the lubricating oil.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such means including a thermally conductive plate in thermal transfer relationship with a portion of the heated motor-compressor and with the body of oil collected in the motor-compressor for redelivery to the elements requiring lubrication.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of such means having new and improved structure for facilitated separation of the refrigerant from the lubricating oil.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevation of a compressor provided with means embodying the invention for separating refrigerant from the lubricating oil therein, the housing of the motor-compressor being shown in diametric section.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the lower portion thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged horizontal section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged section, illustrating a portion of the section of FIGURE 2 in greater detail.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section similar to that of FIGURE 2 but showing a modified arrangement of the motor-compressor.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawings, a rotary motor-compressor generally designated is provided with a device generally designated 11 for separating refrigerant from lubricating oil therein. Motor-compressor 10 is similar to the motor-compressor disclosed in the above-indicated Wellborn and Kimm application and reference may be had to that application for a detailed description thereof. Briefly, however, motor-compressor 10 includes a motor portion 12 and a compressor portion 13 mounted within a hermetically sealed housing 14. The lower portion 15 of housing 14 comprises a cup-shaped member defining a support for holding a body of lubricating oil 16 for delivery to the elements of the motor-compressor requiring lubrication. The space 17 within housing 14 above the body of lubricating oil is filled with high pressure refrigerant vapor which tends to force the lubricating oil downwardly around compressor portion 13 and upwardly through an axial oil passage therein. The pumping action caused by rotation of the rotor pulls lubricating oil up through the passage 20.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, the compressor portion 13 includes a rear head 18 having a downwardly opening recess 19 arranged to carry high temperature refrigerant delivered thereto through an inlet (not shown). The bottom cover plate 21 of the compressor portion is carried on a mounting plate 22 provided with three equally spaced legs 23 secured to the bottom wall 24 of the housing 15 to space the mounting plate slightly above the bottom wall and permit flow of lubricating oil thereunder and upwardly through a central opening 25 therein defined by a downturned flange 26. The coverplate 21 is provided with a central opening 27 aligned With opening 25 and with oil passage 20 for delivery of the oil upwardly through the compressor portion 13. As discussed above, it is desirable to eliminate gaseous refrigerant from the oil delivered upwardly through passage 20 and for this purpose device 11 is installed between rear head 18 and coverplate 21.

More specifically, device 11 comprises a thermally conductive plate 35 formed of a material such as sheet aluminum, extending horizontally between rear head 13 and coverplate 21. The plate is provided with a pair of concentric annular ribs 28 and 29 circumjacent and on opposite sides of recess 19, the ribs being in sealing engagement with the lower surface of rear head 18 to seal recess 19. As best seen in FIGURE 3, a radial rib 30 may be provided extending between annular ribs 28 and 29 and cooperating with similar ribs (not shown) on rear head 18 and coverplate 21 for sealingly dividing the recess into portions on either side thereof. Plate 35 is clamped forcibly between rear head 18 and coverplate 21 as by means of the securing bolts 31 thereby, as shown in FIGURE 2, deforming the ribs 28, 29 sufficiently to assure a positive seal between plate 35 and rear head 18 notwithstanding irregularities in the lower surface of the rear head. A central opening 32 in the plate is aligned with coverplate opening 27 for passage of the lubricating oil upwardly to flow passage 20.

The portion of metal plate 35 disposed between rear head 18 and coverplate 21 and confronting recess 19 comprises a heat transfer portion for delivering heat energy to a peripheral portion 33 projecting radially outwardly frombetween rear head 18 and coverplate 21 to adjacent housing portion 15. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the peripheral portion 33 is provided with a plurality of louvered openings 34 arranged in a spaced annular configuration.

In operation, heat energy within compressor portion 13 transferred to the plate 35 flows outwardly by conduction to the peripheral portion 33 where it is delivered to the surrounding body of oil 16, gasifying the refrigerant in the oil and causing the refrigerant vapor to pass upwardly through the oil into gas space 17. Louvered openings 34 facilitate this freeing of the refrigerant, providing a convective circulation thereof. Thus, the refrigerant is effectively removed from the lubricating oil before the lubricating oil is delivered through opening 25 upwardly to flow passage 20, providing improved lubrication of the motor-compressor. Vibration of the motor causes the portion 33 to vibrate which aids in separating the refrigerant from the oil.

In FIGURE 5, a modified motor-compressor structure 110 is illustrated. Motor-compressor 110 is generally similar to motor-compressor 10 except that no coverplate is provided therein, device 11 functioning both as the means for separating refrigerant from the lubricating oil and as the means for closing the lower end of the rear head.

Having described my invention as related to theembodimerits shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a rotary compressor for use with a volatile refrigerant, means for separating entrained refrigerant from lubricating oil therein, comprising: a housing having a portion defining a sump for holding a body of the lubricating oil; a compressor member having a passage arranged to carry high temperature refrigerant; means for supporting said member in said sump portion of said housing; and a thermally conductive plate in heat exchange with said passage, said plate having a portion extending from said member and into the body of oil for delivering heat from said high temperature refrigerant to said oil to vaporize refrigerantentrained therein and cause the vaporized refrigerant to pass upwardly from the body of oil.

2. The rotary compressor means of claim 1 wherein said extending portion of the plate is provided with a plurality of openings for facilitated upward passing of the vaporized refrigerant,

3. In a rotary compressor for use with a volatile refrigerant, means for separating entrained refrigerant from lubricating oil therein, comprising: a housing having a cup-shaped lower portion defining a sump for holding a body of the lubricating oil; a compressor member having a downwardly opening recess arranged to carry high temperature refrigerant; means for supporting said member in said lower portion of said housing; and a thermally conductive plate extending across said recess and sealingly engaging the member circumjacent said recess, said plate having a peripheral portion extending laterally outwardly from the member and into the body of oil for delivering heat from said refrigerant to said oil to vaporize refrigerant entrained therein and cause the vaporized refrigerant to pass upwardly from the body of oil.

4. The rotary compressor means of claim 3 wherein said extending portion of the plate is provided with a plurality of openings for facilitated upward passing of the vaporized refrigerant.

5. The rotary compressor of claim 4 wherein said openings are louvered. 6. The rotary compressor means of claim 1 wherein said plate portion is thin andis arranged to vibrate freely for facilitated separation of the refrigerant from the oil.

No references cited. 

